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'Super' sandbags save Gueydan

On Aug 17 the levee breached along Hwy 713 just north of the town of Gueydan, LA in Vermillion Parish. Local volunteers from the town of approx 1500 residents worked around the clock bring in equipment and begin repairs.

After several tense days, officials on Sunday lifted the evacuation order for the town of Gueydan in Vermilion Parish.

Rebecca Broussard, director of emergency preparedness for the parish, said it was safe for all residents to return home. However, officials urged residents to be aware of dangerous animals that may be around due to flooding.

The levee along La. Highway 713 just north of Gueydan was breached on Wednesday.

Volunteers from the town of about 1,500 residents worked around the clock bring in equipment and begin repairs. They were soon joined by aviators, test pilots and about 41 soldiers from National Guard units from Louisiana and Mississippi, operating from a staging area at the Duck Festival grounds.

Helicopters carried 4,000-pound sandbags and dropped them along the levee. By the time the breach was contained Saturday, 333 of the "super" sandbags had been dropped.

Major Birmingham (L) briefing LTC William Haygood on operations as the Army National Guard airlifts 4000 pound sandbags to repair a breach in levee along hwy 713 in Gueydan, LA.
SCOTT CLAUSE/THE ADVERTISER